The White Sox are in settlement with reliever Keone Kela on a minor league deal, as mirrored on the MLB.com transaction log. He’s been assigned to the staff’s Arizona advanced in the interim as he builds into sport form.
Kela is making an attempt to return to the massive league degree for the primary time in 4 seasons. He hasn’t pitched within the affiliated ranks since 2022. Kela’s most up-to-date affiliated alternative got here on a minor league cope with the Dodgers late that 12 months. He signed on with the Yakult Swallows in Japan in 2023, although his time there was restricted to 14 innings for his or her minor league membership. Kela had a greater run within the Mexican League final season, firing 40 innings of two.70 ERA ball whereas placing out 1 / 4 of opposing hitters. He added 16 innings of five-run ball within the Mexican winter league.
The White Sox are intrigued sufficient by his type to provide him a minor league probability. The 32-year-old Kela has pitched components of seven seasons on the huge league degree. He had his finest run early in his profession with the Rangers, for whom he tossed 169 innings with a 3.45 earned run common. He labored to a fair higher 2.49 mark over components of three seasons with the Pirates, although that got here in a complete of 47 innings. Kela’s most up-to-date huge league expertise got here when he allowed eight runs in 10 2/3 innings for the ’21 Padres.
At his finest, Kela had a fastball that sat within the 96 MPH vary and a swing-and-miss curveball. He has fanned almost 30% of batters confronted towards a manageable 9.2% stroll price as a giant leaguer. The rebuilding White Sox have little or no in the way in which of established bullpen arms. It’s a good touchdown spot as Kela tries to get again to the best degree. He’ll presumably spend a pair weeks on the advanced earlier than heading to Triple-A Charlotte.
